To write a convincing research essay, one has to understand the topic thoroughly. This means you will have to research both sides of the issue before you chose “for” or “against.” For example, people “for” legalized gambling believe it will provide added economic support to a state as well as draw in tourist dollars. On the other hand, people “against” gambling believe it will create an atmosphere of crime and cost the taxpayers money. Either way, you have to pick one side of the issue and follow it through. In addition, you will need to provide a solution to the social issue in the form of your conclusion. Many articles will provide possible solutions. It is your job as scholar to choose the solution that you believe will really work. You do not have to create a solution on your own.
- Your introduction must provide good background information about your topic, demonstrating there is a conflict. This may require your introduction to be longer in length (2,3,4 paragraphs). Be sure to give as much background information as you can without starting to argue your points in the introduction.
- Somewhere in your introduction, preferably at the end of the intro., you must have a thesis statement,indicating which side you are on. Be sure the thesis is clear and forceful, requiring action. For example: Because of the criminal element associated with legalized gambling, it can destroy a city and must never be allowed.
- Your body paragraphs supporting your thesis must have very specific examples about the issue and from your scholarly articles. Don’t forget the human element. If you describe how the social issue affects the individaul then your argument will be much more convincing.
- Your conclusion should do more than summarize your main idea. This time, your conclusion will not only echo your thesis but encourage your audience to take action – implement your solution.
Essay requirements: type written, conform to MLA style, in 3rd person discourse, 5-6 full pages in length. You must provide a Works Cited page and you must cite your sources correctly in the text as well. *Your Works Cited page does not count as a page of text and you will have at least 6 citations. In addition, you are to use/quote from each of these six scholarly sources in the paper. That means you are to use critical articles to support the ideas in your paper, and they must come from the Collin databases. I will be looking for direct quotations and paraphrases from your critics. I want to six ten different sources in parenthetic/in-text citation–for example (Hedges 24) or (Holstein) or (“Considering Euthanasia”) only if there is not author. Do not use huge block quotations.